U.S. patent number 6,079,602 [Application Number 09/133,798] was granted by the patent office on 2000-06-27 for backpack quick release system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Down East, Inc.. Invention is credited to Clarence F. Howell.
United States Patent |
6,079,602 |
Howell |
June 27, 2000 |
Backpack quick release system
Abstract
A quick release assembly for releasing a backpack from a
waistbelt which comprises a socket and a probe. The socket is
adapted to secure the waistbelt and the probe is secured to a
backpack. The probe is adapted to matably engage the socket and is
configured for forward and backward rotatable movement in the
socket. The socket has a recess and means for engaging catch
surfaces of the probe. When the angular displacement of the probe
from the socket exceeds a predetermined design angle the probe is
released from the socket.
Inventors: |
Howell; Clarence F. (Bridgton,
ME) |
Assignee: |
Down East, Inc. (Bridgton,
ME)
|
Family
ID: |
22460350 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/133,798 |
Filed: |
August 13, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/637; 224/262;
224/271; 24/573.11; 24/DIG.53 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F
3/047 (20130101); Y10S 24/53 (20130101); Y10T
24/4501 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A45F
3/04 (20060101); A45F 003/04 (); A45F 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;224/637,262,271,272
;24/590 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Garbe; Stephen P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Samuels, Gauthier & Stevens
Claims
Having described my invention, what I now claim is:
1. A quick release assembly for releasing a backpack from a
waistbelt which comprises:
a socket adapted to be secured to the waistbelt;
a probe adapted to be secured to the backpack, the probe
characterized by catch surfaces, the probe having at least one arm
to be received in and to seat the probe in the socket for mating
engagement with the socket and for forward and backward rotatable
movement in the socket between an engaged position and a released
position; and
the socket having a recess in which the arm of the probe is
received and means for engaging the catch surfaces of the probe
whereby when the angular displacement of the probe from the socket
exceeds a predetermined design angle the probe is released from the
socket.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the base of the recess is
concave and the leading edge of the probe is convex.
3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the means for engaging the catch
surfaces of the probe comprises:
catch tabs secured in the recess.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the socket comprises a pair of
cavities, the cavities having a leading edge.
5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the cavities are concave.
6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the socket comprises:
means to guide the probe into the socket.
7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said means to guide comprises
lips formed on the leading edge of the cavities.
8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the socket comprises a horn
spaced between the cavities.
9. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the means for engaging the catch
surfaces comprises catch tabs secured in the socket and adjacent
the cavities.
10. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the probe is U-shaped and
defines opposed arms, the arms of the probe adapted to be received
on either side of the horn.
11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the arms are characterized by
cylinders extending laterally outward from the arms, the cylinders
are adapted to be received in the concave cavities.
12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein gussets extend from the
cylinders to the arms.
13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the radii of the convex and
concave surfaces are matched and the surfaces of the catch tabs and
the catch surfaces of the probe insert are matched to facilitate
the quick release of the backpack from the socket assembly.
14. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the catch tabs and the lips
define an opening therein through which opening passes the probe in
a non-vertical direction, the probe adapted to rotate upwardly in
the socket whereby the catch tabs engage the catch surfaces and the
catch tabs prevent a vertical upward movement of the probe.
15. The assembly of claim 1 which comprises:
means to prevent the release of the probe from the socket.
16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the means to prevent comprises
a pair of saddle blocks secured in the cavities of the socket.
17. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the saddle blocks comprise
tracks that frictionally engage the back walls of the socket.
18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the saddle blocks comprise
concave surfaces that engage the opposed arms of the probe.
19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the means for securing the
saddlebacks comprises rearwardly positioned tapped holes, said
tapped holes adapted to receive threaded screws that pass through
the back of the socket.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
A belt assembly to support and release a backpack.
2. Background and Brief Summary of the Invention
Combat soldiers typically wear a light web-belt to carry often used
items such as water-bottles, ammunition, and side-arms. The
civilian equivalent to this is the "fanny-pack" popular with day
hikers. Both soldiers and hikers, however, have difficulty wearing
these light web belts when also wearing a heavy field backpack.
Large load bearing backpacks use a substantial waist-belt to
distribute the heavy load of the pack from the shoulders out over
the wearer's hips. This waist-belt interferes with the web belt if
both are worn at the same time. At best, it is inconvenient to move
items from the light web belt to the heavy waist-belt or visa versa
depending on the moment's need. Combat soldiers and serious
mountain climbers have the added concern of being able to quickly
drop their large backpacks if suddenly threatened by enemy fire or
natural dangers such as avalanches. If essentials such as
ammunition and survival gear are on the backpack waist-belt they
would be lost just when most needed.
Broadly the invention comprises waist-belts equipped with a socket
secured to a belt insert which socket can connect to backpack
frames having a mating probe configuration. Alternatively, the
waist-belt can be used by itself to carry lighter loads by removing
the belt insert. While wearing the waist-belt, the user may
shoulder a backpack and easily connect it to his/her waist-belt by
inserting the backpack frame's probe into the socket.
A probe socket system for the purposes just described is disclosed
in International Application PCT/US97/21188. Although the probe
socket system disclosed in that application is suitable for its
intended purpose it was discovered that for rigorous conditions a
probe socket system was necessary which would increase the
stability of the socket/probe assembly while the wearer leans from
side to side and to facilitate ease of donning of the backpack
while carrying awkward loads.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The probe socket disclosed herein, with reference to prior art
systems, enhances the stability of the probe socket connection when
the wearer leans side to side. Rather than having the probe enter
the socket from above as in the prior art, the present invention
has the probe entering horizontally from the back. This horizontal
entry is preferred. Insertion is facilitated by a lip on the bottom
of an opening in the socket which lip extends out and catches the
probe. As the probe slides down this lip into the interior of the
socket, catch tines flex inwardly (toward the wearer's back) and
allow the probe to settle downwardly into a cavity in the lower
portion of the socket. The prior art design required that prior to
insertion the probe be elevated approximately 2" above its final
locked position in the socket. In the system of the invention, horn
is added on the center line of the socket to guide the probe onto
the lip of the socket. The combination of the horn to guide the
probe into the socket and the lower probe entry point on the socket
enhance the donning of the back pack.
The prior art system uses tines with catch tabs to connect to or
lock to the probe. However, under rigorous conditions the
mechanical strain on the tines and on the socket during both probe
insertion and lateral movement caused occasional failure. With the
present invention, the fork of the prior art system is
eliminated.
In the system disclosed herein, flexible tines are formed in the
socket on both sides of the horn and have catch surfaces which
point outwardly (not laterally) from the wearer's back. When the
probe is inserted, the catch surfaces flex inwardly toward the
wearer's back. This enhances stability by placing the plane of the
flex perpendicular to the lateral motion of the back frame probe
when the wearer leans side to side. Strain reduction is also
achieved because there are no tines which flex toward each other
from a common support strut. The present invention effectively
reduces by half the deflection needed to allow the catch surfaces
on the probe to snap past to achieve a lock during insertion.
When the waist-belt and backpack probe are locked together by the
inventive system and the waist-belt is supporting the backpack, the
system enhances comfort by allowing the backpack to pivot fore and
aft in relation to the waist-belt as the wearer walks or flexes at
the torso. To ease balancing the load, the system allows limited
(lateral) side-to-side motion.
While being worn, the backpack can be rapidly detached from the
waist-belt by either releasing quick release buckles on shoulder
straps or by slipping off the backpack's shoulder straps and
allowing the pack frame to rotate backwardly in the belt insert's
socket. Once the pack frame exceeds a critical backward angle, the
probe disengages from the insert and the backpack separates from
the waist-belt. The wearer is freed from the backpack, but retains
the waist-belt and its attached gear.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of a belt insert/socket embodying the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2--2;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along lines 3--3;
FIG. 4 is a back perspective view of the socket;
FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the socket;
FIG. 6a is a front view of the socket;
FIG. 6b is a back view of the socket;
FIG. 7a is a front view of a probe embodying the invention;
FIG. 7b is a back view of FIG. 7a;
FIG. 7c is a right side view of FIG. 7a;
FIG. 8 is a back view of the probe seated in the socket;
FIGS. 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d illustrate the release of the probe from
the socket assembly; and
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the
invention .
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
In the following description the insert 10, socket 40 and probe 90
each comprise sides which are mirror images of one another.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a molded belt insert 10 is shown
together with a socket assembly 40. A prior art waist belt to which
this insert is secured is shown in the aforementioned PCT
publication. The insert 10
comprises a backplate 12 and extending laterally therefrom are
wings 14a and 14b, which wings 14a and 14b are adapted to be
received in fabric sleeves on a waist belt (not shown). The
backplate 12 is characterized by a pair of saw-toothed tracks 16a
and 16b, each having a central slot 18a and 18b. The tracks 16
extend from the backplate 12. Formed at the upper and lower edges
of the tracks 16a and 16b are ribs 20 and 22 respectively which
extend from the backplate 12. The backplate 12 also comprises pairs
of spaced apart holes 24a and 24b. A central rib 26 extends from
the backplate 12, and the rib 26 together with the opposed ribs 20
and 22 define rectangular recesses 28a and 28b which receive the
socket assembly 40 as will be described.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6b, the socket assembly 40 has a back
plate 42 which is characterized by a pair of saw-toothed tracks 44a
and 44b such that the socket assembly 40 mates and locks with the
tracks 16a and 16b in the insert 10. The backplate 42 is further
characterized by an opening 46 whose perimeter is defined by walls
48a, 48b, 48c and 48d. The upper and lower walls 48b and 48d are
characterized by notches 50a and 50b respectively. The backplate 42
has tapped holes 52a and 52b and through holes 54a and 54b formed
therein. A horizontal plate 56 limits the lateral inward deflection
of flexible tines 68a and 68b, while the walls 48a and 48c limit
the lateral outward deflection of the tines 68a and 68b. Formed
integrally with the top of the backplate 42 is a horn 60.
Referring to FIG. 1, when assembled, the socket 40 is joined by
fasteners (not shown) to the insert 10. The fasteners pass through
the slots 18a and 18b in the insert 10 and are received in tapped
holes 52a and 52b in the socket assembly 40. The slots 18 provide
the capability of vertical adjustment of the socket assembly 40 on
the insert 10. The rib 26 of the insert 10 seats in the notches 50a
and 50b of the socket assembly 40 and the walls 48a and 48b, and
one half of the walls 48b and 48d of the socket assembly 40 seat in
the recesses 28b of the insert 10, and the wall 48c and the other
halves of the walls 48b and 48d seat in the recess 28a of the
insert 10.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6a, the socket 40 comprises the centrally
located horn 60 having a convex outer surface. The horn has side
walls 62a and 62b which, as will be described, help stabilize the
socket/probe assembly. Floors 64a and 64b extend laterally from the
bottom of the horn 60 and terminate in leading leveling edges 66a
and 66b. Flexible tines 68a and 68b extend upwardly from the floors
64a and 64b. As shown more clearly in FIGS. 6a and 6b, the tines
68a and 68b are received at least in part in the opening 46. The
upper end of each tine 68a and 68b has a catch tab 70a and 70b. The
socket further comprises two seats shown generally at 72a and 72b.
The seats 72a and 72b comprise a convex base 74a and 74b, back
walls 76a and 76b, an upper chamfered surface 78a and 78b, concave
lips 80a and 80b extending forwardly and outwardly from the seat
74a and 74b, and side walls 82a and 82b. The seats 74a and 74b,
backs 76a and 76b, lips 80a and 80b and walls 82a and 82b define
cavities 84a and 84b. The back walls 76a and 76b are integrally
formed with the floors 64a and 64b, horn 60 and sockets 72a and
72b. The back wall 48b is characterized by leading chamfered
surfaces 86a and 86b which are in substantially the same plane as
the surfaces 70a and 70b of the catch tabs 68a and 68b. The back
walls 76a and 76b are further characterized by slots 88a and 88b
which will be described with reference to FIG. 10.
Referring to FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c, a probe 90 embodying the
invention is shown, which probe 90 depends from a prior art pack
frame (not shown) is designed to mate with the socket assembly 40.
The probe 90 includes a backplate 92. The probe 90 is substantially
U-shaped and define sides 93a and 93b. The U-shape defines an
opening 94 and the plate 92 is characterized by a recess 96. The
probe comprises outer cylinders 98a and 98b which seat in the
cavities 84a and 84b of the socket 40. Extending laterally inward
from the outer cylinders 98a and 98b are second smaller dimensioned
struts 100a and 100b stepped with reference to the cylinders 98a
and 98b. Gussetts 102a and 102b extend upwardly from the cylinders
98a and 98b to the struts 100a and 100b. The struts 100a and 100b
and the gussets 102a and 102b do not tightly engage the socket 40.
Extending inwardly from the struts 100a and 100b are posts 104a and
104b which have catch surfaces 106a and 106b. The posts 104a and
104b have chamfered surfaces 108a and 108b to facilitate locating
the probe 90 with reference to the horn 60. The posts 106a and 106b
have opposed walls 110a and 110b. When the probe 90 is inserted
into the socket 40 the walls 110a and 110b abut the side walls 62a
and 62b of the horn 60. This stabilizes the probe 90 in the socket
40. Also, the tines 68a and 68b are restrained from inward (towards
the horn 60) movement by the walls 62a and 62b. The probe 90 is
further characterized by the walls 62a and 62b. The probe 90 is
further characterized by levering surfaces 112a and 112b.
FIG. 8 illustrates the probe 90 fully seated in the socket 40.
In the operation of the invention, to secure a pack frame to the
socket assembly 40, referring to FIGS. 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d, the probe
90 can enter the socket 40 at any angle from about vertical to
horizontal. If the probe 90 strikes the socket generally
vertically, particularly with a heavy load, the catch tabs 70a and
70b will deflect rearwardly and allow the probe 90 to descend into
the locked position. If the probe 90 enters at an angle between
vertical and horizontal, e.g. 15.degree. from vertical, the struts
100 will slide over the surfaces 86/70 and the lips 80 will catch
the cylinders 98. The catch surfaces 106 on the probe will slide
under the catch tabs 70, guided by the horn 60 and walls 62. The
probe 90 will then seat in the socket 40. The cylinders 98 are
seated in the cavities 84. The cylinders 98 are seated on the
floors 74, FIG. 8. The probe 90 cannot exit vertically because of
the catch tabs 70/catch surfaces 106. As will be understood, the
wearer adjusts the shoulder straps maintaining the back pack in a
generally flat position against the wearer's back.
Preferably, the probe 90 enters the socket 40 at any angle between
0 and 90.degree. and the probe 90 rotates forwardly and is fully
seated as just described and as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9a.
When the probe 90 (pack frame) rotates backwards a minimum of 10
degrees, FIG. 9b and 9c, the catch surfaces 106 on the probe 90
rotate out from under the catch tabs 70 allowing the probe 90 and
socket 40 to separate if pulled apart. When the frame is allowed to
freely rotate 110.degree. rearwardly, the levering surfaces 112
engaging the levering edges 66 of the floor 64 force the probe 90
up and out from the socket 40. To protect the probe 90, socket 40
and the wearer from breakage or injury under severe twisting and
upward forces, the flexible tines 68a and 68b deflect enough to
allow the two parts to separate without the damage or injury at
angles less than 10.degree..
It has been found that in some circumstances it is more convenient
to temporarily attach the frame and the belt insert so that the
quick release feature does not function. For example, when
transporting/shipping the backpack or when the user's preference is
to remove the belt at the same time that the backpack is doffed.
Accordingly, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, when
the probe is received in the socket, saddle blocks are secured to
the socket to hold the probe in place.
Referring to FIG. 9a when the probe 90 is seated it freely rotates
about pivot axis P. This axis P is offset inwardly (towards the
wearer's back) approximately 1 in. from the load bearing plane, LP,
of the frame. When the wearer moves the frame can flex fowardly in
the FLEX region as the probe 90 rotates at the pivot point, P, in
the socket 40. The flexible tines 68 flex fowardly. The movement of
the tines 68 is limited by the horizontal plate 58. The net result
is the socket 40/probe 90 assembly functions as a leaf spring
suspension system to cushion the loads.
Referring to FIG. 10, the slots 88a and 88b are formed in the back
walls 76a and 76b in registration with the through holes 54a and
54b. Saddle blocks 140a and 140b have tracks 144a and 144b which
frictionally engage the slots 88a and 88b. The saddle blocks 140a
and 140b each are characterized by tapped holes 146a and 146b which
are in registration with the holes 54a and 54b when the blocks 140a
and 140b are fully seated.
Each saddle block 140a and 140b comprises a first concave surface
148a and 148b which covers 98a and 98b and a second concave surface
150a and 150b which cover gussets 102a and 102b. Lips 152a and 152b
having flanges 154a and 154b are received in the seat 72a and 72b.
The saddle blocks are shown inserted in dotted lines
Threaded fasteners or capture screws (not shown) pass through the
holes 54 and engage the tapped holes 146 to secure the saddle
blocks in position. As shown, when installed the saddle blocks
fully enclose the bearing surfaces of the probe/socket assembly to
protect them from dust/dirt contamination and they restrain the
probe from moving upwardly and out of the socket. With the saddle
blocks installed, the probe can freely rotate in the socket, thus
retaining the spring action and the belt articulation features of
the system. To enhance strength and stability the inside faces of
the saddle blocks contact the probe sides when the frame is moved
side to side (laterally). Webbed restraining straps (not shown) can
also be attached from the belt insert wings 14a and 14b to the
frame to keep the frame from rotating rearwardly to the point where
the levering surfaces engage and try to force the probe
upwardly.
The foregoing description has been limited to a specific embodiment
of the invention. It will be apparent, however, that variations and
modifications can be made to the invention, with the attainment of
some or all of the advantages of the invention. Therefore, it is
the object of the appended claims to cover all such variations and
modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *